Grim night ahead for Govou

By Alison Ratcliffe

Anxious evening
The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Lyon's 2-1 defeat against Olympique de Marseille at the weekend and faces a nervous night watching his team-mates in Lyon and hoping they can score the goals necessary to take Lyon into the semi-finals.

Limited commitment
That he is so involved in such a major match is a miracle in itself for a player who freely admitted that he had never shown much commitment to a career as a sportsman in his teens and only played football, as he told Champions magazine, because "no other sport attracted me".

Footballing father
However, after years of sporadic training sessions and time spent considering a career as a physiotherapist or a sports teacher, Govou eventually decided to follow in the footsteps of his father - a player for lower league side CO Le Puy - and make a professional commitment to football, signing for Lyon at the age of 17.

Paternal influence
His father was an influence, but Govou insists that he was never bullied into playing. "No, he supports me more than he advises me," said Govou. "He watches all my matches and he follows my progress, but he's not always on my back giving me advice. He lets me get on with things."

Two titles
That hands-off approach has clearly worked wonders. Govou has already won two French titles with Lyon, been watched by Juventus FC and played a role in France's victory at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup having successfully made tha transition from being a striker to taking up a role on the right wing.

Unfinished article
Quick and strong, Govou adds dynamism to Paul Le Guen's side. However, the player insists he is not yet the finished item. "I'd like to improve my play off the ball," he said. "I need to get into better positions to receive the ball and I need to be better in front of goal."

Drive and flexibility
However, despite his wavering commitment to football in the early years of his career, few doubt his commitment to his career now. His old coach with the French Under-21 side, Raymond Domenech, was certainly awed by Govou's drive and flexibility, saying: "He's a very disciplined player and will do whatever it takes to help out the team."

Fervent support
That attitude has won Govou fervent support among Lyon players, and with the crowd behind him, there is little doubt that Govou is pleased that he chose to become a footballer. "I wouldn't change anything about the way of life," he said. "To do what I'm doing you earn a lot of money, so you make concessions - you're being judged all the time for example."

Cool head
Ever the pragmatist, Govou is evidently trying hard to keep Lyon focused on domestic football despite the glamour of the Champions League. "The Champions League is one objective," he told France Football magazine recently. "But it's no more important than making sure we qualify again."

Cause for celebration
However, should his team-mates earn him the chance to play in the semi-finals on Wednesday night, even this coolest of customers might be tempted to celebrate.

This is an edited version of an article which appears in the third issue of Champions, the official magazine of the UEFA Champions League, which is now on sale. Click here to subscribe now.